The controls work with the simple point-and-click system on the most part. When you turn the roulette to choose a category, you'll have to do a motion while holding A, which feels a bit awkward. However, this doesn't make the game worse; it's just something you get used to and you'll end up not paying much attention to it. Other actions include the dancing around to slow down the timer or up the target score. It's all silly and probably unnecessary, but it makes the game a bit more active and laid back at the same time. Friends Mode requires two to four Wii-motes, depending on the number of players, and Family Mode can be played with just one of them which people can pass along.

The game doesn't look as attractive or inspiring as it could. The developers chose to make it easy for themselves and keep it simple, which doesn't make a whole lot of business sense, I'd say. Making the visuals more appealing to the players could have meant higher sales numbers. We all know there's not a whole lot to expect from a trivia game, but if the game had entered the "cool" category, more people would remember it after playing at their friends' house, becoming potential buyers. The graphics are too bland and childish-looking, which automatically makes everyone think it's a game for kids. After playing it, I know the game is made for all ages; with that being the case, why wouldn't they make it look more like a "Who wants to be a millionaire" kind of game show? The only saving grace is it supports Miis in most play modes. They look cute when they dance and celebrate their triumphs. The other characters are cheesy; they wear the same clothes and diverse hair styles in different color schemes.

The cheery music, sound effects, and voices are nothing impressive either. There's no announcer in the game, which might be good, considering the horrible announcers most games of this kind have. However, you'll still hear a voice once in a while insisting in you dancing, jumping, etc. The voice comes out of the Wii-mote as well as the TV speakers and can get loud in your ears; quite bothersome, indeed. However, it adds a bit of action to the formula, so it's not all that bad. The sound effects have no mystery, but at least they're suitable for the gameplay, and don't feel annoying whatsoever. When you spin the roulette you'll feel like you teleported to the "Wheel of Fortune" TV set.

Smarty Pants is a decent activity to do with your loved ones once in a while, but it's not more than a simple pastime. I still love and enjoy board games, and if that's your case as well, you don't necessarily have to turn your trivia night into an interactive experience in front of the boob tube. The decision is yours: take it or leave it!

By
Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director

Features:

20,000 questions in multiple categories are filtered according to age, giving every player an equal shot at being the ultimate Smarty Pants.

From cranking the spinner and dancing to the intuitive gesture of raising your hand, Smarty Pants features user-friendly controls. Use 1-4 Wii remotes - no Nunchuk required!

Take on your friends and your parents in multiple game modes including quick-fire versus and team-based co-op. Get a 4- player game going for some incredibly fun, fast-paced multiplayer mayhem!

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

GraphicsMiis look cute when they dance and celebrate their triumphs. However, the visuals are not really that special.

3.4

ControlSpinning the roulette is not the easiest thing to do, but everything else works fine; the Wii-mote makes a good "buzzer."

3.4

Music
/ Sound FX / Voice ActingSimple sound effects and cheery music work for this trivia style game.

3.4

Play ValueA good trivia game to enjoy with family and friends, as long as it's just four of you or you start creating teams.

3.4

Overall Rating -
FairNot an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.